The Wisdom Channel By Lawson H. Caldwell (c) June 1999 (Synopsis) The play centers around a very famous movie star, Steel Martin, who is married to a very well known novelist, Delores. They have two children. Both Steel and Delores are gay. Delores' lover Jane is her assistant. Steel and Delores were very close friends and both wanted children. Viewing this as a conventional façade publicly, they married. Years prior to this, Steel made love with his college roommate, David. They're lovemaking was arranged by David's girlfriend, Clarisa, as a game. David then dropped Clarisa for Steel only to turn around, leave college, marry Clarisa and move to New York to study broadcasting. Clarisa is now a very successful businesswoman and David is a network sports announcer. The play takes place over a weekend. Steel invites Ben Richards, a journalist, to their home. Steel wants Ben to write an article announcing that they are gay and detail their marriage as well as their love for their children and Jane. Steel and Delores are doing this because David has left Clarisa and she has threatened go to the media and out not only David but Steel, Delores, their marriage and Jane. They have chosen Ben to write their version. Over the course of the weekend, Ben listens to their stories.. Things become more interesting when Clarisa arrives unexpectedly before David. She is there to convince David not to leave her. David says that he is leaving her for good. He walks to the phone and hands it to Clarisa telling her to call the press. When Clarisa does not make her call, Ben assures everyone that he will rewrite his story depicting them as the famous, happily married, straight couple the public perceives them to be. Steel, along with David, Delores and Jane tell Ben to write the story as originally planned. They decide to out themselves because it is time they set an example. Unconventional can be conventional. Cast of Characters: Steel Martin - Steel is a very handsome and genuine person who deeply cares for Delores, their two children and Jane. He is thirty-two years old. Steel handles his fame well and is very proud of his work as an actor. He still has feelings for David. Ben Richards - Ben is a very low key thirty-five year old journalist. He listens well and is very objective in his opinions and work. Delores Martin - Delores is a very grounded person. She is an exceptional writer who adores Steel and their children. She is around thirty-five. Delores is very much in love with Jane. Jane Jacobs - Jane is a very even minded person who has a quick wit when the opportunity presents itself. She is a few years older than Delores. Jane is devoted to Delores with her love. She is also Delores' assistant. Gerald Candor - Gerald is a very young, handsome, well organized individual. He is twenty-eight years old. Gerald runs the household for Steel and Delores. Clarisa Duncan - Clarisa is a very strong minded, overbearing, power hungry individual. She is a successful business woman who credits herself with David's career. Clarisa is thirty-seven years old. She is determined for David not to leave her. David Duncan - David is the typical football jock turned sports announcer. He is mild, pleasant and incredibly handsome. David is basically a nice guy who has to decide what he wants. Because of his confusion over his feelings for Steel he marries Clarisa. Act I. Scene 1. (Steel and Ben walk into the living room. Gerald also walks in the room with them. He is carrying a silver tray with glasses, etc... Gerald places the tray on a table near the sofa.) STEEL And this is the main room where we spend most of our time. (Addressing Gerald.) Thank you Gerald. GERALD Is there anything else, Steel? STEEL No thank you. (Gerald walks out of the room.) There's a great view of the ocean from this window. The children love to play in this room when we're here. BEN (Looking out the window.) It is an incredible view. STEEL By the way. How was your trip? BEN Just fine. Thank you for sending a car for me at the airport. STEEL My pleasure. Before Delores and Jane come down I want to thank you for agreeing to meet with us on such short notice. I'm sure your magazine will understand. BEN I'm sure they will. STEEL Please. Fix yourself something to drink. Gerald has set up everything. BEN Thank you. (Ben walks over and fixes himself a drink.) STEEL How is your room. Everything fine? BEN Everything's very nice. You have a beautiful home. STEEL Thank you. Of all our houses, this one is my favorite. I think because the children enjoy it so much. BEN How many homes do you own? STEEL Well, I own three and my wife owns two. BEN Really? Where are they located? STEEL (Steel fixes himself a drink.) Different places. BEN I assume you wish to keep the other locations private. STEEL Let's just say it's easier for us if it's kept a secret. BEN I understand. You have two sons. Is that correct? STEEL Yes, Mark and Smith. Mark is eight and Smith is six. They're visiting friends this weekend so you will have to meet them another time. BEN (Looking at a photograph.) Your sons? STEEL Yes. BEN I don't recall ever seeing a photograph of your children. STEEL Delores and I have worked hard to keep their lives very private. I have to credit her with most of it. You see Delores' mother and father are also writers so she was already aware of what it is like to be a child of two famous parents. With her book promotions and my film locations, we've tried to keep the boys world as grounded as possible. BEN Do they travel with you. STEEL Most of the time. Unless the location is too far and then Delores is with them. Delores' assistant Jane is a tremendous part of their lives. She's family. If the location works out then everyone joins me and we make it an adventure for them. (Delores and Jane walk into the room.) STEEL Oh good. Ben, I would like for you to meet my wife, Delores and her assistant, Jane. BEN Hello. JANE Hello, Ben. DELORES Hello, Ben. BEN Delores, I am a tremendous admirer of your work. I have read all but one of your novels. DELORES All but one? BEN You're most recent. I just haven't taken the time to sit down and just read. I promise you though, it is on my list. DELORES I'm sure I have an extra one around. You can begin reading it this weekend. (They all laugh.) (Jane walks over to the tray set up by Gerald.) JANE Delores, the usual? DELORES Yes. Thank you, Jane. (Jane fixes them both a drink.) Ben, I'm also an admirer of your work. It was your recent series of articles that brought my husband and me to ask you here to write our story. For some it might appear to be quite a story. BEN I'm curious, of course. STEEL I understand. My wife and I have been thinking about this article for some time and we just wanted to locate someone we thought would write the story truthfully and with taste. BEN I appreciate your trust. Many people in the entertainment industry don't particularly take a liking to journalist. I suppose that's why I was surprised you asked me for the entire weekend. STEEL On our own turf. Also, we wanted to spend some time with you. Getting to know you as you are getting to know us. BEN I'll do my best. STEEL That's all any of us can expect. BEN How would you like for me to conduct the interview? STEEL Well, since you are here for the entire weekend. We can just begin anytime and continue our chats as we go about our weekend. What do you think? BEN It's your call. STEEL Good. Well, I suppose you will want to spend some time with each of us. Let's begin with Delores and me. Then it will be our turn to ask you questions. BEN That's fine. STEEL Some of this information you might already be aware of, having done your homework. We met in New York when Delores was promoting Distant Season. I was appearing in a play and after one of the performances I was having dinner with my agent. Delores walked over to my table and introduced herself. We hit it off immediately. DELORES Steel was smitten. STEEL We both were. We both wanted the same things. BEN Such as? STEEL Children, careers. (pause.) The rest you'll learn this weekend. BEN Is Steel you're real name? STEEL Yes, it is my real name. Steel was my great aunt's last name. It was a family thing. BEN Did you always want to be an actor? STEEL I had been in the usual school plays while I was growing up. When I was in college I decided to major in History and played on the college tennis team. During my sophomore year I took drama as an elective. The professor said that we could either write term paper or try out for one of the schools productions. Anything was better than writing a term paper. I auditioned and got the part of George Tesman in Hedda Gabler. That's when I truly fell in love with acting. I was always been good at history so I kept it as my major. Besides, everyone said I couldn't make a career out of acting so I thought I could do something with my history major. BEN You sure fooled them. STEEL Right out of college I moved to New York. I was only going to stay for three years. That's how long I promised myself I would try making it as an actor. I thought that if I had not gotten a substantial role in three years, well, I had tried. I would then do something else. What, I didn't know. I had not thought that far out. Anyway, on my third audition, I landed a role in a small off broadway play. BEN Ceremony. STEEL You have done you're homework. BEN A lot of people forget that you started out in the theatre. STEEL I played the part of Ken, the son. Well, that was my big break. Someone casting for Steven Lemar's upcoming film saw the play and called me. I moved to LA three months later. DELORES An the rest is motion picture history. STEEL (Amused.) Happily, for us. (Gerald comes to the doorway.) GERALD Dinner will be ready in about eight minutes. DELORES Thanks, Gerald. We'll finish our drinks and will be right in. (Gerald smiles, nods and walks out of the living room. Delores addresses Ben.) Before we throw out too much your way, Ben, why don't we go on into dinner. Gerald has prepared a wonderful welcome dinner for you. He gets finicky if we keep him waiting. STEEL We can continue our chat after dinner. BEN We have all weekend. Scene 2. (After dinner. Steel and Ben are alone in the living room.) BEN Dinner was delicious. Gerald is quite a chef. STEEL He is. He is a tremendous help. He travels with us most of the time. He's good with the children. BEN Now where was I? STEEL You had just completed your interview with George Bush. BEN Yes. After that series of articles the magazine offered me my current position. STEEL It's an excellent magazine. BEN I agree. STEEL You're a good writer. That's why we wanted you to write our story. (Pause.) Ben, before we call it a day, I wanted to mention a few facts for you to sleep on before we continue in the morning. BEN Certainly. I'm listening. STEEL A significant part of this story began on my first day in college. I was very excited about college. The roommate assigned to me was David Duncan. BEN The sportscaster? STEEL Yes. He was playing freshman football and for some reason he did not want to be in the jock dorm so he was assigned to my room. I played freshman tennis and since the tennis players didn't have a particular dorm, it was the closest the coaches could find to the jock dorm. Anyway, David and I hit it off. We did everything together. We naturally became best friends. We were very close. Let me describe David as he was then. (The spotlight comes up and David is standing on stage.) David was the most muscular man I had ever seen. But with all his might and physic he was the mildest person you would ever want to spend time with. I don't mean that he was dull or goofy. He was just pleasant and had a wonderful sense of humor. During our sophomore year he started dating one particular girl. Up until then he dated all the time. Tons of women. No one could keep their eyes off him. He was quite the romantic. It was unusual for him to date one woman for a long period of time so when he started dating Clarisa, everyone just assumed it would be brief. (The spotlight dims on David. The spotlight comes up and Clarisa is standing on the stage.) Clarisa was very bright. The top of her class in the MBA program. She was a few years older than David and very much in charge. She was beautiful but such a bitch. David, I suppose, thought that it was flattering to have such a beautiful and intelligent woman want to be with him all of the time. (The spotlight dims on Clarisa.) I just assumed that he knew that all women wanted to be with him. Clarisa ran his life. They were happy though and David certainly made her happy. (Sounds of passion.) I was in the same room. Right across the room. Many nights I pretended to sleep. It was amazing to me that they could believe I was asleep because of all the passion across the room. Our dorm room was divided by a desk and a closet so our beds were at opposite sides of the room. But the sounds of passion were right there. Loud and clear. (Sounds of passion.) There was mirror on the wall beside the bathroom door. I could see David's (Steel, continued...) bed in the mirror. Often when we were studying and sitting on our own beds we would look at one another in the mirror and talk. When he was making love to her he must have been aware that I could see them. Once when I sat up in bed during one of their love (Steel. Continued....) marathons. They rolled over and I could swear that David looked at me and winked. One evening David and I were studying and he started talking. (David slowly rolls a bed out on the stage while Steel is speaking. Steel walks over to David. The light comes up and David and Steel are sitting on the bed.) DAVID Thanks for your help on my paper on the Canterbury Tales. STEEL No problem. DAVID Listen, Steel, I....well, Clarisa..........(Pause.) You're my best friend, right? STEEL Sure. What? DAVID Well, you know how Clarisa likes her way. Well, she and I really enjoy each other. I mean physically. STEEL I didn't think I heard you two playing Pictionary on the other side of the room. DAVID (Smiling.) Well..... Clarisa and I really enjoy each other physically. Well, sometimes I might ask her to wear something a little, well, you know.....different and sometimes she might ask me to pretend to be someone. STEEL Someone? Like who? DAVID Different guys. Like a sholdier or one of her professors. Anyway. She asked me if I would do something and......it would really be a turn on for her. So she says. STEEL Does she want you to type in the nude for her? DAVID That would be simple. She would like to see me make it with another guy. STEEL (Surprised.) You and Clarisa with another guy? DAVID No. She just wants to watch. Apparently it has always been a turn on for her. STEEL So...... DAVID Man, she and I have great sex together and I when she's turned on to something, well, it's hard for me to not please her. I thought that since we are best friends and we understand each other and well, we've seen each other without cloths on. Well, I thought that maybe, just this once, you might do me a favor and well....kind of make out in front of Clarisa for me. STEEL What? In front of her? (Steel turns to the audience as if talking to Ben.) STEEL The moment he asked I was so excited for some reason. Not about being in front of Clarisa but the fact of kissing him and touching his naked body. His muscular tanned body. I surprised myself. I would admire David when he was undressed but I assumed it was because we both worked out hard at the gym and at sports. I agreed and, well, we set the next evening for the event. They both arrived. Clarisa was dressed in a cocktail dress and David was wearing what he always wore. Jeans and a shirt. Clarisa gave the orders. (Clarisa walks onstage David and Steel stand.) CLARISA (Speaking in a very, slow, direct and sensuous voice.) David, I want you to strip to your underwear. Then I want you to kiss Steel. Slowly remove all his clothes and then, well, get it on. (David undresses to his underwear. Slowly he walks over to Steel. They look at one another. David slowly places his hands on Steel's shoulders. He leans over and kisses Steel on the lips. Steel places his hands on David's waist. David slowly moves away from the kiss and removes Steel's shirt. David then removes Steel's jeans. They are now both standing close to one another in their underwear. They look at one another with a glimpse of passion and suddenly they embrace in a very passionate, romantic kiss. (The light dims.) (The light comes up. David and Steel have made love. They are laying on the bed with a sheet covering them. Clarisa walks over to David. She has her coat on and is leaving.) CARISA Excellent performance gentlemen. (Leaning over David. She kisses him.) You were wonderful, as usual. Call me in the morning. (Clarisa leaves.) (David and Steel awkwardly look and smile at one another. Steel starts to get out of the bed.) DAVID Where are you going? STEEL Over to my bed. I'm going to sleep. (David leans toward Steel and touches his arm.) DAVID No. Stay. I really would like for you to stay. (David touches Steel's shoulder and then kisses him.) (Steel stands toward the audience and continues as if talking to Ben. David stands behind Steel and continues to kiss his neck while Steel is talking to Ben.) STEEL David and Clarisa stopped dating the next day. David and I continued our new found romance. We did everything together. Clarisa was furious. She was the only one who really knew we were boyfriends. She never said a word to anyone. She graduated from MBA school with honors. David and I didn't see each other much that summer. I was a camp counselor at a sailing camp and David was working as an intern at a local radio station. Before we left school for the summer we had a very romantic evening and David said that he was in love with me. I said I loved him. We both couldn't wait until school started so we could be together again. I had never felt like this before. (David walks off stage. Steel continues talking to Ben.) BEN Quite an interesting story. Did the two of you room together in the fall? STEEL We were supposed to but on the first day, when everyone returned to school, there was a letter waiting on my desk. It was from David. He and Clarisa were married the week before and they were moving to New York. She was going to work for bank there. David was going to quit playing college football and major in broadcasting at NYU. BEN How long ago? STEEL Well, let's see. I was twenty and now I'm thirty-two. Twelve years. (Pause.) Twelve years. Scene 3. (Ben walks out onto the terrace where Delores and Jane are having coffee and reading the morning paper.) BEN Good morning ladies. (They both reply with Good morning.) DELORES I hope you slept well. BEN Very well, thank you. DELORES You and Steel were up quite late talking. BEN Where is Steel this morning? Still asleep? JANE He was up around around seven. He loves to play tennis early. He's playing with the pro at the club. BEN We didn't finish our conversation last night and I thought perhaps we could this morning. But since I'm here with you, I might as well ask you two some questions. DELORES That's what this weekend is about. BEN You met Steel while you were promoting Distant Season DELORES Yes. That was my second book but my first really successful one. I was still trying to get used to being well known in the literary world. It was all so new and often times confusing. BEN In what way? DELORES Excited about my book. Hoping everyone would enjoy reading what I had written. Upset with bad reviews. Wanting to truly believe the good reviews. Wanting to write another successful one. Thousands of things. BEN I see. DELORES When I met Steel I was overwhelmed by him. Not by his fame, though I certainly knew who he was. He overwhelmed me because he was so grounded for someone so famous. He is very genuine. We clicked. He had just finished reading my book and asked me all sorts of questions. BEN Did you start dating right away? DELORES No. He was in the play and I was on my book tour. We became very good friends. Very close friends. JANE They arranged to see each other as much as possible. I was working for Delores by then and I can remember how we would arrange entire promotions around certain cities if Steel was filming close by. BEN Romantic. DELORES Not really. Steel still had very strong feelings for David. BEN He mentioned David to you? DELORES We never have had secrets from each other. Secrets from the world perhaps but not from one another. BEN So... DELORES Jane, feel free to jump in at any point in case I leave anything out. JANE Sure thing. DELORES We had been friends for several years. Jane and I had been together before I met Steel. She and I had thought about a family. I suppose we thought it would be easier if we didn't come out to the world. We thought of adopting and probably would have if we had not met Steel. He was wonderful. We were all complete. So one evening I proposed to him. BEN You proposed marriage? DELORES I certainly did. We were on the coast. (Steel walks onstage and sits in a chair. Delores walks to where Steel is sitting.) We're a team. It might not be conventional but what is? STEEL Marriage? DELORES Look, we care for each other and love each other. I'm in love with Jane and want children. You want children. It would be easy for Jane and me to adopt children. I'm not in the public eye like you are. But, believe it or not, I do want a male influence in my child's life and you are the dearest one to me. Think of how wonderful it would be. If we were straight we probably would be married. So this way we can have children, raise them, have our careers and still continue to be in the public eye without the stress. What do you say? STEEL Delores, you and Jane mean so much to me. The press. Television. They'll ask us too many questions. And what if I ever have a lover, partner or even a date? Do you think he would want me to be married and living a charade? It's hard enough dating when you're famous much less when you famous, gay, married, have several children, a lesbian wife and her lover. I think he would really have to understand me, my celebrity and, in addition to all that, like you two. DELORES What's not to like. And if he doesn't, Jane will straighten him out. (Pause.) Pardon the pun. Look, are you going to just sit around until David changes him mind or until you (Delores, continued...) decide that you might fall for someone else? The bottom line is that you're famous and I am relatively famous. Our children are going to need as much of a personal life as there can be. This is the closest thing to a straight looking world as you're going to be able to pull off. Besides, I'll be the envy of every woman in the country because I'll be your wife and they'll dream about our life together. Of course, while they're dreaming about us, I will be snuggled up in Jane's bed. Steel, you've accomplished so much already. So what if the man that you've had a thing for since college left you for his wife. You're wealthy, famous, smart and one of the most handsome men I know. You have always said that you wanted children. Well, you can. And with someone you care about and who cares about you. STEEL (Pausing.) How would we......you know? DELORES The traditional way. We are somewhat attracted to one another. Jane won't mind. It's for the children. STEEL Can I think about it for a while? DELORES Of course, take your time. (Steel walks off stage. Delores walks over to where Ben and Jane are sitting. She continues to talk.) Steel called Jane and me the very next morning said he would marry me. We tried to keep the as wedding private as possible. BEN I remember the photographs in all the magazines. DELORES It's a good and happy marriage. Jane and I are happy. The children are happy and Steel is happy. BEN (Addressing Jane.) Do you ever feel left out? I mean their marriage is out there in the media. Worldwide. JANE No. (Pause.) Never. I can honestly say that from the very beginning we three have included each other in everything. Because I am Delores assistant, it is easy to participate and be included no matter where we are. No one asks questions because they are aware that I work for her. BEN (Addressing Delores.) You certainly had me convinced that you and Steel were madly in love. Photographs of the two of you in each other's arms. Acting very romantic. DELORES There is a very genuine bond of affection between Steel and me. Those photographs are real. Not in the sense that they are a façade for the media but in the sense that we do care for one another and do touch each other a great deal. Even when we are at home alone. The children are loved. They feel loved and are surrounded by people who love them a great deal. (Pause.) I hope this gives you a little more insight. BEN It does. BEN Another question. DELORES Sure. BEN Where does Gerald fit in? Is he..... (Gerald walks in the doorway just as Ben asks the question.) GERALD I run the household. For all the houses. BEN Good morning. I was just trying to fit the puzzle together. GERALD I feel like I am family. I travel with Steel, Delores, Jane and the children when they need me. I am an excellent chef and I also happen to be gay. BEN I was just wondering. GERALD Not a problem. (He begins taking some of the items off the table and places them on the tray.) DELORES Tell you what, Ben. Steel won't be back from tennis for a while. You might as well see some of the sights around here. Why don't we meet downstairs in fifteen minutes and Jane and I will take you into the village. BEN That sounds fine. I'll be just a few minutes. Scene 4. (Ben and Steel are in the living room. Steel is dressed in a tennis outfit.) STEEL I'm glad you enjoyed your afternoon with Delores and Jane. BEN Very entertaining. We had a very nice time. STEEL Now that you are aware of our marriage and, well, Jane and all. The children. David. BEN Well, I'm not quite sure where David fits in yet. Surely you haven't been waiting for him? He's married. You could date any woman or man you wanted. You were voted one of the World's Most Beautiful People in one of those other magazines. STEEL That's just publicity. My agent makes sure I'm on the cover. It's only because I'm an actor. I have dated men during my years since college and after Delores and I were (Steel, continued...) married. That was what we agreed upon. None of them worked out for all the obvious reasons. Some only wanted to go out with me because I am famous. Some didn't like the fact that I was famous. Some just didn't want a relationship. Take your pick. Delores thinks I've never really had worked through the David thing. BEN Do you and David keep in touch? STEEL Some. We phone or write occasionally but we have never really talked about his marrying Clarisa or breaking it off with me except once. The other times we saw each other, Clarisa made sure we were never alone. The one time we were really alone was several years ago when we saw each other at a celebrity tennis tournament. I had just completed a film. David was already working as a weekend sports announcer for a cable network. I had just returned to my hotel room when there was a knock on the door. (The lights dim and Steel walks over an gets his tennis racket. David comes on stage dressed in a tennis outfit. Steel walks over and pretends to look through the peep hole. He mimes opening the door.) STEEL David. DAVID I saw you name listed for the afternoon games. I tried to get your attention but there was such a crowd. STEEL How did you know my room number? DAVID I saw Delores in the lobby. STEEL (Smiling.) Delores still thinks you and I would make a good couple. I'll have a chat with her later. DAVID Can I come in? STEEL Sure. (David walks in the room. Steel pretends to close the door.) DAVID Delores and you really have something. What's her friend's name? STEEL Jane. DAVID You still seeing that young politician? STEEL No. DAVID He was married too, wasn't he? STEEL Yes. She was straight. She actually liked the arrangement. It just didn't work out for us, that's all. He was a Republican. DAVID Clarisa would never go for your type of setup. She runs our marriage like two corporations. She would never allow me to have a boyfriend. (Pause.) I guess you were the closest. It's good to see you, Steel. STEEL It's good to see you. Maybe we can all meet for dinner one night. How long are you staying? DAVID I was hoping we could talk. Privately. In person rather than through letters and vague phone calls. Can we talk now? STEEL Sure, but I have to be downstairs in an hour. (David walks over to Steel and kisses him passionately. Steel kisses him in return. David begins to put his hands around Steel's waist and slowly moves them from the bottom of the shorts up inside the shorts. They continue kissing until Steel pushes away.) STEEL I thought you wanted to talk? DAVID I do but I just had to kiss you. I've missed kissing you. I think about kissing you all the time. STEEL Is that why you married Clarisa?' DAVID Steel, please understand. Clarisa has helped me become more than an out grown college jock. I'm on television. I love talking about games and getting paid a lot of money for doing what I like to do. Clarisa runs me. I married her because I thought I loved her. I thought we were going to be a team. I was twenty. She gave me direction. STEEL What was between us, then? DAVID I thought we were just two best friends who liked to fool around with each other. I didn't know then that I liked men. It just seemed so natural between us. I thought it was because we were so close. Friend wise. STEEL You said you were in love with me. DAVID I know I did. I just thought. I just didn't want to hurt anything. You. Us. My job. Whatever. I've worked at sorting things out and I'm here to say that I am gay. STEEL I could have told you that back in college. DAVID I still have very strong feelings for you. STEEL Well, that's all fine and good when it's on your schedule. Don't forget you have Clarisa. DAVID It's not the same. She's very different now. She doesn't understand. She controls so much of me. She always has. STEEL I can't work this out for you, David. This is between you and Clarisa. (Pause.) I have to get ready to go downstairs now. DAVID Can we talk later? STEEL There's nothing to talk about. (David walks off stage. Steel resumes his conversation with Ben.) BEN How does this fit in with my story? STEEL David has decided to leave Clarisa again. They've separated before but they've always reconciled. This time he says it's for good. The divorce is final next week. She has said that if he signs the divorce papers, she will go public. Not only will she out her own husband but she is going to out Delores, Jane and me. Saying that our marriage is a shame and that we are using the children as a front. BEN But you're not the one breaking up the marriage? Why would she spill the beans on you and Delores? STEEL You, fortunately, have never met Clarisa. If she can't be happy, she will make sure that everyone else is unhappy. The fact that Delores and I are happy, love our children and Jane, means nothing to her. Bottom line. David is leaving her. She has never forgotten that David broke up with her for me in college. BEN There is no way David can stop her? STEEL She's a very powerful person. She chews up corporate takeovers and spits them out with delight. People who have worked with her for years are afraid to turn their backs away from her. Once when her name was misspelled on a memo, she, personally walked through the building in search of the individual who sent the memo. BEN Did she fire the person? STEEL No. She didn't have to. The person was so terrified when they heard she was coming that they quit on the spot. BEN And David? STEEL David called me last week apologizing. He said he has tried everything except going back to her. Which, I can't blame him, is not even an option. He's coming here tomorrow morning. That is why I thought I should fill you in. Your article is my way....and Delores' way of defining to the world that we are a family. A family who cares for one another. We might not be conventional. We're all very happy. BEN How do you think the public, your fans, will react? STEEL I'm hoping that your article will show them that my film and stage work are for them. My personal life is for me. I would hope that they would not stop coming to my films and plays just because I have been in love with a man since college. BEN (Trying to make a joke.) Perhaps when they hear that the man is David Duncan. STEEL The hunk sportscaster? BEN Your gay fans might understand. Have you though about your gay fans? STEEL I'm concerned that they will think that I ignored gay issues by pretending to be straight and married. There are plenty of men who are married and gay. Corporate types whose wives might or might not be aware that their husbands also have trophy boys on the side. I have always supported gay rights. Why wouldn't I? They pertain to my wife and me. And they pertain to our children. I've spoken on the floor of Congress twice in favor of gay rights. I've played gay characters in several films and plays. I don't think I have to out myself to accomplish any of these things but since Clarisa is doing that for me I am going to take a stand and not apologize for being happy. BEN Do you think David will speak with me for the article? STEEL I spoke to him briefly on the phone. I mentioned that you would be here for the weekend. I'm sure he will be more than happy to meet with you. BEN What time is he to arrive? STEEL Around ten. BEN In that case I'd better get a good nights sleep. Tomorrow is going to be quite a day. STEEL Ben, I can't begin to tell you how important this article is for Delores and me. And for David. BEN Are you in love with him? STEEL Good question. Act II. Scene 1. (The next morning. Gerald is setting up coffee on the table in the room. Jane walks into the room.) JANE Gerald, they just called from the gate that David's limo is on it's way up the drive. GERALD He brought a limo? I pictured him in something a little more sporty than that. JANE He probably did not want anyone to know it is him. I don't know. How do I look? GERALD Beautiful. JANE Delores said she would be right down. Has anyone else come down yet? GERALD Just Ben. He's out on the terrace. (The doorbell rings.) I'll get it. How do I look? JANE Dashing. (Gerald walks out of the room. Voices are heard. Clarisa comes storming into the room. Gerald is following her.) CLARISA Where is he? JANE (Surprised.) Who are you? CLARISA As if you have to ask. I'm Clarisa Duncan. Which one of the lesbians are you? JANE I'm the younger one. May I ask what you are doing here? CLARISA I am here to see my husband. Where is he? JANE He's not here. CLARISA Don't lie to me. I'll search every room in this house until I find him. (Steel walks into the room.) STEEL That won't be necessary, Clarisa. He isn't here yet. He's due to arrive any minute. When I spoke with David he didn't mention that you would be joining us this morning. CLARISA (Calming down.) I thought I would surprise him. STEEL That will be a surprise. (Clarisa walks around the room.) CLARISA Very nice place, Steel. It looks as if people are still going to your movies. STEEL What are you doing here, Clarisa? (Clarisa looks at the photograph of Steel's children.) CLARISA Steel, your children are beautiful. Of course, I did always think you were one of the handsomest men I had ever met. Next to David. STEEL What are you doing here? CLARISA I've come to take my husband home. STEEL Shouldn't that be up to him? After all, it's his marriage too. CLARISA It's my marriage. David and I belong together. I might not look it, but I'm older and I know what is good for David. His career. His happiness. He's a fool to leave this marriage. Besides, you shouldn't encourage his attempt at single life. After all, your name looks pretty good in print. STEEL So, you are going to make everyone else as unhappy as you are just because David wants out. CLARISA Out. Out meaning Out of our marriage? Or Out as in Out of the Closet Out? STEEL Take your pick. CLARISA Maybe for just one second you forgot who you're talking to. You're not the only famous person standing in this room. I certainly don't think all those women who adore you and your movies would take a liking... (Ben and Delores walk into the room.) BEN Why didn't someone tell me there was excitement going on? CLARISA Another boyfriend. Really, Steel. (Addressing Delores.) You must be the other lesbian. (Delores looks surprised and amused.) BEN Sorry, I'm not the boyfriend. I'm just a journalist. And you are? CLARISA You're no one if you have to ask. STEEL Ben, this is Clarisa. She is the reason you're here this weekend. DELORES I've heard a great deal about you, Clarisa. CLARISA Of course you have. (Addressing Steel.) Why in the world would he be here on my account. No one knew I was coming. STEEL He's not here to interview you or even write about you Clarisa. He is here to do a story on Delores and me. Our marriage. Our life. CLARISA (Addressing Ben.) You might as well head home. I'm taking care of that story. DELORES It won't mean as much once we out ourselves, Clarisa. CLARISA Oh, now I see what you two are up to. Bump my story? I think I have some better material. Don't forget Steel. I'm the one who got you and David together in the first place. STEEL I've already filled Ben in on our college days. CLARISA You might feel comfortable with all of this but David is the Sports Announcer in this story. The jock. The man's man. I built his career. I know who watches his show. Macho men who don't mind seeing two women together, but David Duncan? The sports guy? With who? That movie star my wife goes on about? No way. Really? (Addressing everyone.) I think David will think twice. Besides, there are plenty of marriages out there worse than ours. (Everyone is silent and just looks at one another.) JANE Would anyone like a drink? Scene 2. (Clarisa is sitting in one of the chairs reading a magazine. No one else is in the room. After a few moments, Gerald walks into the room.) GERALD Mrs. Duncan, Steel asked me to see if there is anything else you would like while you are waiting? CLARISA How old are these magazines? (Looking at Gerald. She then smiles.) You know, you're very handsome. Tell me. Do you and Steel ever.....ever.... GERALD No, Mrs. Duncan. We don't. I would tell you to mind your own business, but... CLARISA But you're too smart for that, aren't you? GERALD Can I bring you anything? CLARISA Just my husband. He's late. I hate to wait for anyone. (Steel walks into the room.) STEEL Clarisa, they just called from the gate. David is on his way. I want to ask you to please keep this civil and perhaps all of us.... (Gerald walks out of the room to go to the front door.) CLARISA What's with this all of us stuff? I want to see David by my self. (Delores, Jane and Ben walk into the room.) Oh, that's nice. Bringing in the troops. DELORES Clarisa, this is important. Steel, Jane and I just want our privacy. We haven't hurt you. There's no need to make our lives public. Think of David. You said yourself that you built his career. CLARISA That's right. And he needs to remember that. (The doorbell rings.) (Silence.) (Gerald walks in with David.) GERALD They're all in here. DAVID (Looks at everyone. Addresses Clarisa.) Clarisa, blasted, what are you doing here? (Addressing Steel.) Steel, I'm sorry. I had no idea that she would come here. Delores, Jane, I really didn't JANE Can I get you a drink, David? DAVID Maybe in a minute. The nearest bottle. CLARISA Oh for goodness sakes, David. Calm down. Look, you see what you have done. You've aggravated me to the point of saying for goodness sakes. I'm here to see you. Why do you think I'm here? That I had to find the true meaning of the word boring so I came for to visit Steel and his lesbian tribe? DAVID Steel, I'm sorry. STEEL David, this is Ben Richards. He's writing the article about Delores and me. BEN Nice to meet you. DAVID You must think we're all crazy. BEN I'm just the observer and writer. STEEL David, I hate to do this but Clarisa is determined to meet with you alone. Believe me, I don't like the idea but I think it is the only way to make her leave. Gerald can bring your things in and we can meet afterward. CLARISA Afterward? There is no afterward. David and I are heading back home. (Addressing David.) We'll take the limo and (Referring to Gerald.) the cute butler with the great butt can bring your car at a later date. DAVID (Addressing Jane.) I believe I will have that drink after all. CLARISA Now everyone, out! Scene 3. (David is sitting on the sofa while Clarisa is talking.) CLARISA And then I molded you into a public image. Not just a jock but a credible, polished announcer. The networks never would have approached you if it had not been for me. DAVID Clarisa, not even the words change when you tell me this over and over. I've told you many times that I would not be successful if it wasn't for you. But that doesn't mean you own me. You've earned you ten percent over and over. CLARISA Own? Of course I do. I spent my time building my career while all the time I worked on yours. Because we are a team. We deserve to stay together. DAVID Hasn't it ever occurred to you that at some point I took over my own career and made it work. That at some point, after you opened so many doors for me that I made myself successful. I would not be the Sports Announcer I am with just you opening the door. Once you're in the door, it can just as easily reopen and out you go. Hasn't it ever occurred to you that I did that part on my own? CLARISA Aren't we becoming the confident one? I worked hard to get you here and this is the thanks. Leaving me after all we've accomplished. Accomplished together. DAVID I just want out of our marriage, Clarisa. I'm not happy. We've been together since college. We could still remain close. I've changed. When I met you, my direction was off. You guided me. Yes, into a successful career but not a successful marriage. I'm gay, Clarisa. CLARISA You're not gay. He is. You and Steel were close in college. I thought it would be fun to see...... DAVID I think I was aware of my attraction to men long before you set me up with Steel for your evening's entertainment. CLARISA Quite an outing. I'm gay. Just like that. You can't leave me, David. I won't allow it. DAVID What will you do? Print our story in every tabloid and have it talked about on every talk show? CLARISA Well. (Pause.) Yes. That's the plan. You see, you will be miserable and Steel and the lesbians will be miserable. I will be, in the public's view, the scorned woman. The wealthy, powerful woman whose husband used her to build his career. (Pausing.) Actually, there's a book deal in there somewhere. Don't you think? DAVID It's amazing. Were you always this mean and I was just too naive and controlled? Or did you one day wake up and decide to be unbearable? CLARISA There's no reason to hurt my feelings. (Pausing. She speaks in a quiet tone.) David. Remember the fun. We did have fun. We did make love. So many times. Remember when you landed that contract for the Rose Bowl? Remember that evening? DAVID That was a long time ago, Clarisa. We've separated three times since then. I'm gay. If you go public and Steel goes public.....well then, I'll be public. I won't come back to you. Even if you swear to never print the story. If you go through with this story I assure you I will find some way to make it up to Steel and the others. CLARISA You're in love with him? DAVID Who? Steel? CLARISA Don't play that game with me. So you think that you and Steel.....and that you can fit into their world. The boyfriends and the girlfriends. Be famous, gay and fool everyone. I'm sure those two children of theirs have been wondering where Daddy's boyfriend has been all these years. And what about me? You think you can just walk in here and become a part of this and leave me? Leave me? Me? Don't you forget who I am. DAVID (Walks over to the phone.) I might love Steel. I have no idea. I do know that I want to be with him. Whatever that means. I don't even know how he feels about me. Here. (Lifts the receiver.) Call whoever it is you have lined up to go to the presses. Call that entertainment gossip show. Better hurry, Ben might beat you to it. A good story like that. One that will win you more publicity. You're amazing. CLARISA (Walks over to the phone.) You don't think I will? (She takes the receiver from David. She pauses. In a very calm voice.) Just tell me this. (Pause.) Why not me? DAVID Clarisa. We've been through that. Hundreds of times. Each time we separated. CLARISA The first day I met you. You were so big. So handsome. But so innocent. I knew I could mold you into someone just as dynamic as I knew I was going to be. I knew what Steel felt. The way he looked at you. I felt power over him because we felt the same thing but I was the one who could have you. I wanted to see you two make love. I suppose, so he would know he could never be able to have you. To be married to you the way I planned. You did love me first. We were great together. Remember? DAVID That was a long time ago. We wanted the same thing. Fame. Recognition. Power. We have those things now, Clarisa, but I don't have a soul mate. Someone I can enjoy all of it with. I think of Steel when I think of someone like that. CLARISA And me? DAVID You don't love me, Clarisa. I sometimes don't think you ever did. You need to own someone and I have decided that it's not me anymore. CLARISA I want you. DAVID No, you don't. Just buy a corporation. You'll be fine. (Pause.) I've already completed my part of the divorce papers. Our marriage will be over even if you decide not to sign the papers. It's over so go ahead and make your call. (The lights dim.) Scene 4. (Ben walks into the living room the next morning. David and Steel are lying on the sofa. They have slept on the sofa all night. They are wearing underwear and have a sheet covering them.) BEN Good morning. STEEL Good morning, Ben. You're up and dressed. It's (Looking at his watch.) seven o'clock. BEN There's a car coming for me in a half hour. I'm taking the nine o'clock flight home. That was quite some scene when Clarisa left. I imagined you two would celebrate when she decided not to make her call. DAVID It was and probably will be the only considerate thing she has ever done for another person. That and giving me my freedom. Of course, she will drag the divorce out a s long as she can. Just to have the last word. But, I'm free. BEN And since she halted her story, there's no point in me staying. I've taken notes and will revise the article as the sweet inside world of one of American's favorite movie stars and one of America's top notch novelist. Their marriage. Their children. How they are raising them. How they respect their privacy. Same old stuff but it sells. (Delores and Jane walk into the room.) JANE Good, you found them. BEN I was just telling them about the revised version of the article. STEEL Delores. Jane. David and I were up most of the night. JANE I can see. STEEL Talking. We decided, only if you agree of course, that we should go ahead with our story as originally planned. (Delores and Jane look at one another.) BEN What? But you don't have to. Clarisa dropped her story. STEEL Delores. Jane. Look at the four of us. Look at what we've accomplished. All of us. We're young. There's more to be accomplished. We're happy. Do we want our children to be afraid of being who they are or have to pretend something just because other's might not understand. And what about all those people who look up to us or admire our work. A lot of those people are gay. Why should they feel that they are different just because they are gay. David and I talked.We decided that it is time we set an example rather than hid behind this wall that others have set up. BEN But your careers? DELORES They'll be fine. Me? I'm a lesbian novelist with a gay husband, two wonderful children and a terrific lover. That could be pretty in right now. It might be unconventional but what's conventional anymore? We'll be fine. David is the one I'm wondering about. DAVID A gay sports announcer? Maybe in. In about ten years. But why not now? Besides I want to catch up on my personal life right now, anyway. (David kisses Steel's ear.) BEN Steel, maybe you should sit back and think about this for a few weeks. You seem to be caught up in the moment. STEEL I'd like to think that people want to come to my movies or my plays because of my acting. For my work. I hope they won't stay away because I have chosen a different lifestyle. BEN Do you really think people will understand your arrangement? STEEL Maybe they won't but, then, maybe they will. May be more people will come out. Eventually it won't be so out of the ordinary. One day our children will wonder what all the fuss was about. Ok, it's decided. Let's have some breakfast and get started on the reason I hired you. What we agreed on in the beginning. A true and honest story. That is, of course, if we're all still in agreement? Everyone? DAVID, JANE AND DELORES Let's do it. DELORES Come one Ben. We'll fix you a terrific breakfast. JANE Gerald must be up by now. (Everyone walks out of the room. David and Steel remain on the sofa.) DAVID What are you thinking? STEEL At last I'm beginning to feel like a whole person. It will be a good move. A good move for everyone. DAVID When do we get to the part where the sportcaster and the movie star get married? STEEL One thing at a time. One thing at a time. (They kiss passionately.) Curtain.